2016 Oscars Challenge: [32] “Joy” – Best Leading Actress

JENNIFER LAWRENCE
“Joy”

OscarsⓇ Nominated Role: Jennifer Lawrence plays Joy, a single mother with a conflicted extended family, whose determination to better her life prompts her to invent the Miracle Mop.

Most years when David O. Russell releases a film, the acting categories fill up with his players. “The Fight,” “American Hustle,” and “Silver Linings Playbook” all saw their respected actors getting nominations and in many cases, winning. Sadly, Russell’s latest film “Joy” fell a bit short, hopefully humbling the director at least slightly. But what does come out of the film is an amazing performance by the strong willed Jennifer Lawrence, who takes on a new kind of role for herself, while marking the third time she’s been nominated for an Oscar from partnering with David O. Russell. In the film she plays the title character, a single mother who goes on to invent a mop. The film follows her struggle of keeping her crazy family in check, balancing her work life and personal life, and constantly overcoming the obstacles thrown in her way professionally and personally. To be honest, “Joy” wouldn’t stay afloat without Lawrence and to think anyone else could pull that off it slightly crazy. Yes, Lawrence has performed so much better in other roles, but her fortitude in “Joy” is commendable.

Who’s her competition? First things first, no one is going to award Jennifer Lawrence for this film when she’s performed so much better in some of Russell’s previous films. Secondly, Lawrence just won in 2012 for her role in “Silver Linings Playbook,” so no one is going to be in a rush to award her quite so soon, especially with this being a much lesser impressive role. Lastly, Brie Larson (“Room”) looks unbeatable in this category and even if she wasn’t, you have Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn”) who was more impressive and has never won plus Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years”) who is 70 years old and still hasn’t won, so on the “due” scale, Lawrence definitely doesn’t stand a chance.

Previous nominations? This is the fourth Academy Award nomination for Jennifer Lawrence. She was previously nominated for: